King of the Wilderness

On Lin Yu’an’s way to the December isolation zone, they passed through a more secluded path, less traveled, leading to the central logistics area.

At the end of the passage was a row of metal buildings that looked more like temporary warehouses, differing significantly from the main research area’s style.

One heavy iron door bore an almost faded warning sign: "Law Enforcement Temporary Regulated Supplies—Unauthorized Personnel Strictly Prohibited."

A strong scent, distinctly belonging to large felines and quite different from Arctic animals, faintly emanated from the gap under the door.

"What’s in there?" Lin Yu’an asked curiously.

Max paused for a moment, a complex expression of sympathy and helplessness flashing across her face.

"It’s a legacy issue of our center," she sighed softly, "a little unfortunate one that everyone is close to forgetting..."

Seeing the confusion in Lin Yu’an’s eyes, she began explaining the unknown past.

"A month ago, the Fish and Wildlife Administration Bureau dismantled an illegal tiger farm over in the Matanuska Valley."

"Can you believe it? In Alaska, someone actually raised over a dozen Northeast Tigers in their backyard like they were chickens."

"The farmer was a mentally troubled retired serviceman who not only illegally bred them but also ran so-called tourism projects featuring photos with tiger cubs."

"The environment was extremely poor, and many animals were malnourished, with severe inbreeding issues present."

"When the law enforcement broke in, they were completely stunned. They had neither the capacity nor a suitable venue to temporarily house the dozen or so stressed adult beasts and a few whimpering cubs."

"All of America’s professional rescue centers were contacted, but all required lengthy coordination and quarantine periods. They had no choice but to seek our help."

"Because in all of Alaska, only we have the ready, highest-security isolation facilities."

She pointed to the iron door, "Our center became the temporary storage point for these seized assets. The adult tigers have been gradually relocated, but one remains in a relatively special condition."

"Shall we take a look?" Lin Yu’an suggested.

Max hesitated briefly but nodded in agreement. Knowing Lin Yu’an’s personality, she understood that if he didn’t see it for himself, he wouldn’t stop thinking about it.

Using her access, she opened the heavy iron door. Inside, the space was small, and the light was somewhat dim, illuminated by only a few energy-efficient lamps.

The scent in the air was even stronger. Inside a small isolation room laid thick with hay and soft blankets, Lin Yu’an saw a small ball of orange and black fur.

It was a Northeast Tiger cub, seemingly only two or three months old, even smaller than when first seen in December.

Hearing the door open, it didn’t react like a normal beast cub, immediately hissing in alertness or hiding in a corner.

It merely lifted its little head, looking curiously and blankly at the two strangers at the doorway with a pair of overly pure and innocent blue eyes (tiger cubs initially have blue eyes).

It was very small and a bit disheveled, lacking any majesty expected of a king of the beasts’ offspring.

Upon seeing Lin Yu’an, it seemed to feel no threat, merely tilting its head, then lowering it again to clumsily gnaw at a small rubber toy in front of it.

"This is Survivor," Max said with a voice full of pity, "a name given by the law enforcement; it’s the only one of the cubs that survived."

"There’s nothing majorly wrong physically, but we found its cognitive and behavioral abilities seem to have some congenital defects."

"Perhaps it’s a result of inbreeding’s ill effects, or maybe due to early malnutrition and psychological trauma."

Max’s tone grew more resigned, "It learns slowly, and its response to external stimuli is very dull. Most importantly, it seems to inherently lack the instinct for fear and deterrence."

"It won’t hiss at anyone and doesn’t protect its food. If you put it into any normal tiger group, it would be killed by its peers within a day."

"So, no rescue center is willing to take it in. It’s become a defect that nobody wants, and can only be indefinitely stored here."

Lin Yu’an frowned, "What about the Fish and Wildlife Administration Bureau? They’re the enforcement agency and this tiger’s legal temporary guardian. Aren’t they going to do anything?"

"Do anything?" Max emitted a bitter, sarcastic laugh, "Of course they do."

"Every month, they pay our center a rescue allowance of three thousand US Dollars on time, which sounds like a lot, right?"

She paused, a hint of disdain flashing in her eyes, "But that amount isn’t even enough to cover its most basic nutrition and medication!"

"And as a rapidly growing Northeast Tiger cub, Survivor’s appetite and nutritional needs will only grow larger."

"Not to mention, if any effective rehabilitation treatment is to be done for its cognitive impairment, the expert and equipment costs would be a bottomless pit."

"So the reality is, our research center is actually subsidizing from its own budget to raise a potentially troublesome issue for the Federation Government."

"And if it does die here due to health issues, they would be the first to come and investigate us."